And quickly, thanks to everyone who is reading the blog and commenting (here, in person, on facebook etc.)
I really really appreciate it.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Feeling better before 3rd chemo
This Friday will be mom's third chemo appointment. Since her last appointment she's been eating, knitting, lightly cleaning, bathroom etc.
She said she had some issues with dry mouth yesterday but gargling with salt water will solve that problem. That is the least of our worries.
The Emend (a drug that she takes for three consecutive days after a chemo appointment) helped her. No vomit so far. Nausea is there sometimes but she is dealing with that well.
Our main goal is to get her to gain weight, at 93 pounds it's very concerning. Her doctor is upset as well.
I want to thank all of our friends for coming to the house, bringing lots of yummy food, and great company.
I have one last bit of good news: on Friday the 19th my boyfriend proposed to me and I said yes. I am now engaged. Mother was very happy as well as the whole family.
This week a great service called the Road to Recovery (American Cancer Society) informed me a volunteer will drive her to her appointment and bring her home. I signed her up for it a while back. I didn't think they'd be able to swing it but lets see how this first appointment goes. I hope he doesn't cancel.
I will post again after the third chemo appointment.
She said she had some issues with dry mouth yesterday but gargling with salt water will solve that problem. That is the least of our worries.
The Emend (a drug that she takes for three consecutive days after a chemo appointment) helped her. No vomit so far. Nausea is there sometimes but she is dealing with that well.
Our main goal is to get her to gain weight, at 93 pounds it's very concerning. Her doctor is upset as well.
I want to thank all of our friends for coming to the house, bringing lots of yummy food, and great company.
I have one last bit of good news: on Friday the 19th my boyfriend proposed to me and I said yes. I am now engaged. Mother was very happy as well as the whole family.
This week a great service called the Road to Recovery (American Cancer Society) informed me a volunteer will drive her to her appointment and bring her home. I signed her up for it a while back. I didn't think they'd be able to swing it but lets see how this first appointment goes. I hope he doesn't cancel.
I will post again after the third chemo appointment.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
2 down 4 more to go
So Dr. A was very upset that mom wasn't eating well. She's lost weight and is now 93 pounds.
They tweaked her nausea medications and she is taking compazine, zofran, dexomethazone, and other drugs to help her w/ her nerves and bowels and all sorts of stuff.
She ate some toast today, some jello, half an egg. Now she's going to eat some rice and chicken and even soft veggies.
We are taking it slow for now, giving her 6 small meals. Now that she can actually keep stuff down we can think about meal plans, how much, how often, accommodate her changing tastes.
I really want to try and give her an Insure and Ice cream milk shake. Of course we'll have to thin it out because milk and diary products have always been a little harsh on her stomach.
She got up today and did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen table, even peeled some potatoes. Today is a good day so far.
They tweaked her nausea medications and she is taking compazine, zofran, dexomethazone, and other drugs to help her w/ her nerves and bowels and all sorts of stuff.
She ate some toast today, some jello, half an egg. Now she's going to eat some rice and chicken and even soft veggies.
We are taking it slow for now, giving her 6 small meals. Now that she can actually keep stuff down we can think about meal plans, how much, how often, accommodate her changing tastes.
I really want to try and give her an Insure and Ice cream milk shake. Of course we'll have to thin it out because milk and diary products have always been a little harsh on her stomach.
She got up today and did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen table, even peeled some potatoes. Today is a good day so far.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Nausea and chemo update
Went to DFCI today with mom to see the Nurse Practioner. My friend came to the rescue today and really came through with transportation in the early morning. We were at the hospital today from 9-4. They gave her IV fluids and nausea meds for 4 hours.
Tomorrow morning my aunt is going with the help of our friends (thank you Raemon bhai) for mom's second chemo treatment.
She has been throwing up since Saturday the 13th. The chemo is not the cause of it since Gemzar has side effects but not THIS severe. I ran into Dr. A when getting some food today in the cafeteria (I was zoning out and he actually startled me) and he said this nausea is due to the tumor itself. The obstructions in her pancreatic ducts are the major problem. They don't want to delay the treatment. It could really help her. Her blood counts are fine so they feel comfortable proceeding.
Her NP helped tweak her nausea regimen and we put her on some new stuff (4 new things). They're not working tonight...we'll see what happens tomorrow.
It is time for bed, I shall update after her second chemo infusion tomorrow.
Inshallah this nausea will go away. I want her to be able to eat more than a popsicle.
Tomorrow morning my aunt is going with the help of our friends (thank you Raemon bhai) for mom's second chemo treatment.
She has been throwing up since Saturday the 13th. The chemo is not the cause of it since Gemzar has side effects but not THIS severe. I ran into Dr. A when getting some food today in the cafeteria (I was zoning out and he actually startled me) and he said this nausea is due to the tumor itself. The obstructions in her pancreatic ducts are the major problem. They don't want to delay the treatment. It could really help her. Her blood counts are fine so they feel comfortable proceeding.
Her NP helped tweak her nausea regimen and we put her on some new stuff (4 new things). They're not working tonight...we'll see what happens tomorrow.
It is time for bed, I shall update after her second chemo infusion tomorrow.
Inshallah this nausea will go away. I want her to be able to eat more than a popsicle.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Week following 1st chemo
Hi everyone, here's a short update on how mom's doing after her first chemo treatment. She's been vomiting everyday for four days so far so we're trying a new drug added onto her regimen, something she can take at bedtime.
Her second appointment is this Friday the 19th early in the morning. A good friend of ours is helping us get there (I truly don't know what we would do without all our friends' support). This week is my turn to go w/ mom to chemo, last week Parveen went.
The nurses and doctors at DF have been great, and very good about returning calls. If she does go into the hospital again, I'll update you all as soon as possible.
Her second appointment is this Friday the 19th early in the morning. A good friend of ours is helping us get there (I truly don't know what we would do without all our friends' support). This week is my turn to go w/ mom to chemo, last week Parveen went.
The nurses and doctors at DF have been great, and very good about returning calls. If she does go into the hospital again, I'll update you all as soon as possible.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
First Chemo treatment
Yesterday mom had her first treatment. My cousin Parveen went with her to the treatment and it took forever. They were there from 2pm--6pm. I met them there after work and we all went home together.
Last night she was fine. She ate, she slept, she was alert, a little tired.
This morning at 8am she was up and walking around, she helped my aunt make broccoli.
She then took a long nap and then the visiting nurse came. During this time we should've fed her, there was a 5 hour gap between breakfast. We thought that it was best to let her rest.
When she took her afternoon dose of morphine and reglan (the anti-nausea med) she drank a whole glass of water. This sudden influx of water on an empty stomach made her vomit. So we will have to make sure she eats more frequently.
Since then she's had some ice cream, crackers and the like. For dinner she didn't eat much. She had some soup that aunt made her but not too much of it. She didn't feel very well and was queasy tonight. We're taking it slow and I just hope whatever she did eat she keeps down.
Tomorrow I will try to make her some Bangali custard (otherwise known as )
Last night she was fine. She ate, she slept, she was alert, a little tired.
This morning at 8am she was up and walking around, she helped my aunt make broccoli.
She then took a long nap and then the visiting nurse came. During this time we should've fed her, there was a 5 hour gap between breakfast. We thought that it was best to let her rest.
When she took her afternoon dose of morphine and reglan (the anti-nausea med) she drank a whole glass of water. This sudden influx of water on an empty stomach made her vomit. So we will have to make sure she eats more frequently.
Since then she's had some ice cream, crackers and the like. For dinner she didn't eat much. She had some soup that aunt made her but not too much of it. She didn't feel very well and was queasy tonight. We're taking it slow and I just hope whatever she did eat she keeps down.
Tomorrow I will try to make her some Bangali custard (otherwise known as )
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Routine check--in w/ DFCI
We went to Dana Farber Cancer Institute today instead of the Faulkner. It is much closer.
Today we found that mom weighs 99 pounds. They drew two vials of blood for tests before chemo.
Mt. Auburn said her thyroid was off but Dr.A thinks it's the least of her problems. He wants to tackle the cancer first.
They have increased her pain patch (fentanyl).
She is eating solids but what is happening is the cancer is using up a lot of her nutrients So she needs to eat way more than she is. The problem is of course her appetite.
He prescribed a drug for her appetite. We will try that tonight. Today I want to thank Zaman uncle for driving us to the appointment and back. He was a tremendous help.
So the plan is every friday we go in for an infusion of Gemzar (gemcitibine) and the last week of Feb. going into March she is off the chemo. Then they will do another three weeks on and one week off (that whole thing is a cycle...3 weeks on one week off). After two cycles they may do a CT scan or he said they will assess her condition but how she's eating, her pain, other symptoms.
The doctor reached over and held her hand several times. He was a little surprised to see her in a wheelchair but Zaman uncle thought it would be best that she don't walk around all over the hospital. He was right.
He's a great doctor. I really like him.
One of the weeks we will be seeing the NP instead of the MD but that will obviously be OK. One of the Fridays we have a date with a nutritionist. I definitely want to be there for that one.
Ok, I will write more when I have something more. Inshallah it'll just be good news :-)
The family feels all sorts of things about chemotherapy Friday. I just hope it helps.
Today we found that mom weighs 99 pounds. They drew two vials of blood for tests before chemo.
Mt. Auburn said her thyroid was off but Dr.A thinks it's the least of her problems. He wants to tackle the cancer first.
They have increased her pain patch (fentanyl).
She is eating solids but what is happening is the cancer is using up a lot of her nutrients So she needs to eat way more than she is. The problem is of course her appetite.
He prescribed a drug for her appetite. We will try that tonight. Today I want to thank Zaman uncle for driving us to the appointment and back. He was a tremendous help.
So the plan is every friday we go in for an infusion of Gemzar (gemcitibine) and the last week of Feb. going into March she is off the chemo. Then they will do another three weeks on and one week off (that whole thing is a cycle...3 weeks on one week off). After two cycles they may do a CT scan or he said they will assess her condition but how she's eating, her pain, other symptoms.
The doctor reached over and held her hand several times. He was a little surprised to see her in a wheelchair but Zaman uncle thought it would be best that she don't walk around all over the hospital. He was right.
He's a great doctor. I really like him.
One of the weeks we will be seeing the NP instead of the MD but that will obviously be OK. One of the Fridays we have a date with a nutritionist. I definitely want to be there for that one.
Ok, I will write more when I have something more. Inshallah it'll just be good news :-)
The family feels all sorts of things about chemotherapy Friday. I just hope it helps.
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